guinea pigs pet store
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So You Want to Get a Guinea Pig…
For many people, when they think about getting a guinea pig the most practical resource is the local pet store. There a few issues that you may want to think about first before you make a purchase.
First – are you comfortable buying an animal when you could save another nearly perfectly identical pet from being euthanized at a local animal shelter? Many people think only problem animals end up in shelters. This is simply not true. Most commonly guinea pigs end up in shelters because owners realize their children are not yet mature enough to take care of an animal, they do not have enough time to spend with a pet, work has become busy all of a sudden, or the family needs to move. None of the above involves problems on the part of the unwanted guinea pig.
Second – there are practical considerations when buying a guinea pig from a store that sells animals for profit. Many times you will find animals that have been kept improperly and not segregated by sex. You may find guinea pigs living in all sorts of conditions from dangerous bedding, crowded conditions (leading to problems with parasites,) wire cage floors, and improperly ventilated cages. Ask yourself, do I want to buy an animal that may already be sick or have a predisposition to poor health? Veterinary visits are expensive, so in my opinion it just wouldn’t make sense. Furthermore, like I said above – guinea pigs are not always correctly sexed and both males and females become fertile after a few weeks. What does this mean? Well “James” is likely actually a “Kelley” and pregnant with an average of four babies. Birth is very difficult for guinea pigs – especially the young mothers. Sometimes the mothers and or the babies just do not make it through. This can be really hard on your family, especially if you are left with four orphaned babies.
Don’t let any of the above happen to you. Most areas have general animal shelters and rescues. Some Internet searching will also help you uncover guinea pig specific rescues. Just remember, if a shelter doesn’t list guinea pigs on its web site, don’t be discouraged. Call! Frequently small animals area available and need homes. Also, the advantage of adopting a guinea pig from a rescue is that you can expect a lot of help when it comes to caring properly for your pet. Many rescues will help you select the right cages, food, and supplies. On top of that, many will also provide a lifetime guarantee for your animals – if for any reason you cannot keep them, with proper advance warning the rescue will take them back.
